Willard “Bill” Bentley September 4, 1928 – July 27, 2010
Willard ‘Bill’ Bentley, 81, of Clearfield, Iowa formerly of Diagonal, Iowa died Tuesday, July 27, 2010 at the Greater Regional Medical Center in Creston, Iowa.
Willard ‘Bill’ Charles Bentley, son of Orville Leroy Bentley and Velma Edith (Hewitt) Bentley was born September 4, 1928 in Union county, Iowa. Bill graduated from Diagonal high school in 1945. On June 27, 1948 Bill was united in marriage to Barbara Ann Buck in Mount Ayr, Iowa. They settled in the Diagonal area where they farmed.
From 1953 to 1955 Bill served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. After his discharge from the service, Bill returned to farming in the Diagonal area. In 1983, they retired from farming and opened Mom and Dad’s Bar in Diagonal and Willard’s Trucking. In 2002, they moved to Clearfield.
Bill was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a 45-year member and past Commander of the American Legion Post #395 of Diagonal, past Vice Commander of the Iowa Fifth district of the American Legion and past president of Lions Club of Diagonal.
Bill is survived by his wife, Barb of Clearfield, Iowa; two sons, Billy (wife Joan) Bentley and Jim (wife Laura) Bentley, both of Diagonal, Iowa; one daughter, Karen (husband Mike) Eblen of Creston, Iowa; one granddaughter, Kayla Bentley; one sister, Marjorie (husband Keith) Davis of Ames, Iowa; three brothers-in-law, Roland (wife Jane) Buck of Mount Ayr, Iowa, Don (wife Sandy) Buck of Denver, Iowa and Merritt (wife Wilma) Buck of Marietta, Georgia; two sisters-in-law, Carol Lee Bentley of Diagonal, Iowa and Phyllis Buck of Creston, Iowa; several aunts and uncles, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Robert and Donald Bentley, father and mother-in-law, Raymond and Dorthy Buck, and a brother-in-law, Dick Buck.
Services were held Saturday, July 31, 2010 at the Powers Funeral Home in Creston with Pastor Tim Maxa officiating. Flag presentation was made by the American Legion Post #395 of Diagonal.
Burial will be at the Bethel Cemetery south of Diagonal at a later date. Memorials are to be established. Powers Funeral Home in Creston was in charge of the arrangements. Online condolences may be given under the obituary category at www.powersfh.com.
